Hollow revolving illuminated spotlight sphere



Feb. 17, 1953 J. MARFISI 1 HOLLOW REVOLVING ILLUMINATED SPOTLIGHT SPHEREv Filed May 17, 1951 7 I I I llllllll l x INVENTOR. 'Jofin Ma rfzlsz'ATTCI RN EYB Patented Feb. 17, 1953 OFFICE HOLLOW REVOLVING ILLUMINATEDSPOTLIGHT SPHERE John Marfisi, Omaha, Nebr.

Application May 17, 1951, Serial No. 226,866

2 Claims.

upper and lower semi-spherical shells with clear and colored lensespositioned in spaced openings in the shells and with a motor, loudspeaker and a light positioned on the interior of the shells.

The purpose of this invention is to provide a spotlight ball thatproduces a plurality of White and colored streams of light without thenecessity of using a plurality of spotlights positioned at differentpoints around a ball having reflecting surfaces thereon.

For display purposes and particularly in night clubs and the likespheres have been provided and small reflectors positioned at differentangles on the surfaces and spotlights positioned at'different points anddirected toward the sphere produce numerous streams of light whichextend at different angles and in substantially all directions. Withdevices of this type it is necessary to provide electrical connectionsfor each spotlight and it is also necessary to provide a motor forrevolving the sphere. Furthermore obstructions temporarily placedbetween the spotlights and sphere interrupt the display of light; Withthis thought in mind this invention contemplates a sphere for producinga plurality of streams of light of white and different colors whereinthe light originates in the sphere and the sphere is rotated by a motorincorporated therein.

The object of this invention is, therefore, to provide means forconstructing a hollow ball or sphere wherein a motor, light and loudspeaker may be mounted therein and wherein a plurality of lenses ofdifferent colors may be incorporated in the shell or surface.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device for projecting aplurality of streams of white and diflerent colored lights wherein theentire unit is self contained.

A further object of the invention is to provide a ball for producingsmall light streams of different colors which is of a simple andeconomical construction.

With these and other objects and. advantages in view the inventionembodies a lower semispherical shell supported by a chain extendedupwardly from the center of the lower surface, an upper semi-sphericalshell positioned around the chain and resting upon the lower shell, alight, a loud speaker, a motor, and means supporting the light, loudspeaker and motor in the spherical body formed by the shell.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear from thefollowing description taken in connection with the drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the improved spotlight sphere.

Figure 2 is a vertical section through the sphere.

Figure 3 is a sectional plan taken from a plane between the upper andlower sections of the sphere.

Figure 4 is a detail on an enlarged scale showing the flanges at theedges of the sections of the sphere.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference characters denotecorresponding parts the improved spotlight ball of this inventionincludes a ball or spherical shell having a lower section Ill, an uppersection II, a bracket l2 supported by a chain I3, a motor l4 carried bythe bracket, a light 15 and a loud speaker l6, both of which are mountedon the bracket, and a bar I! actuated by the motor and connected to thelower section ill of the shell by studs I8 and I9 which are threadedinto lugs 20 and 21 on the lower surface of the bar I! whereby the shellis rotated by the motor.

The bracket 12 is provided with a vertically disposed section 22 onwhich the motor I4 is positioned and the bar I! is clamped to a sleeve23 by an elongated nut 24 on which a threaded stud 25, which is threadedinto the member 23 extends.

By removing the studs l8 and. [9 the lower section Ii] of the shell maybe dropped or removed and by removing the nut 24 the motor may beremoved for repair.

The light 15 is provided with a socket 26 that is secured to the bracketl2 by screws 21 and the loud speaker I6 is secured to the opposite endof the bracket by bolts 28. The bracket is provided with an eye 29 thatis threaded into the upper surface thereof and the lower link of thechain I3 is secured in the eye 29.

The upper edge of the lower section II) is provide dwith a continuousflange 30 and a similar flange 3| extends around the lower edge of theupper section I I. The sections are provided with knobs 32 and 33whereby the light openings or lenses in the two sections are aligned.

.The lower section I0 is provided with an opening 34 into which the nut24 extends and the upper section I l is provided with a similar opening35 through which a sleeve 36 having a flange 31 on the lower end extendsas shown. The upper part of the chain I3 is secured in an eye 38 on theupper end of the sleeve 36 and the chain may be suspended from a book 39in the ceiling or which may be threaded into a supporting element 40 asshown in Figure 1.

The openings in the lower section II) of the sphere, which are indicatedby the numeral 45, may be open or may be provided with colored lenses46, and similar openings 4'! in the upper section Il may also be openor. may be provided with colored lenses $8: The lenses ot'ibotl'r-secstions are usually of different colors.

As illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 the chain may be connected to the eye38 on the upper end of the sleeve 36 and also to a similar; eye 4.9 one,

the lower end, although it will be understood. that the sleeve 36 may beconnected to the chain in any suitable manner.

With the parts arranged in thiszmanner, thew;

upper section II is freely rotatable upon theflange 31 of the sleeve 36and with thewflange ii'l' of the upper section resting upon the flange30 of =the lower sectionthe: upper section rotates withthe lower;section whereby light; streams which may: be white or; of; difierenta,colors: are: projected; from thessphereeor ball.

Current to the light and motor ,mawbeusupplied by electric-wires; as:indicated by the; numerals 4| and 42 and current to the loudspeaker;lilxay;

tag-supplied: through wires; &3: and: 4-4;;

With, the:- parts;.--arranged in. this manneizthe sphere is suspendedfrom a ceiling, or other-sup! portzpreierably' bylr. the: chains asshown; and;,ias

currentriswsupplied to the partsthe motonrotates the shell and the lightprovides lightmbeamsa-Qf white and different; colors wherebythew-beamstravelgaround theainteriors' of- BJZIOQHLOI';ithfiiilike' which: the;device is; positioned.-.

It: will bepunderstood, that; other modifications may 1 bee-made; in,the. design and arrangement of the parts ewithoutydepartingl fromthe,;spirit,of-

a lower semi-spherical section, each; of said-gsecai tions havingcentrally disposedlopenings: there- 1 andspaced;openings; which are:prcvidedlzwith lenses of "different; colors; in: the Walls; thereof athrough the opening in the center of the upper section thereof, abracket carried by the said chain, a light positioned on the saidbracket, a motor carried by the bracket, a horizontally ,disposed barcarried by the motor and adapted to be, rotated thereby, and meansremovably attachiilg;the-.lhwemsectiorrr.oiltlietshell? toethe said bar.

2-; In a. splotlight sphere, the combination whichcomprisesasubstantially hollow spherical shellrhauingam-upper semi-sphericalsection and allowezfasemi-spherical section, each of said sections,having centrally disposed openings therein spacecb openings, which areprovided with iiijdifferenticolors in the walls thereof, a extended.downwardly into the shells throughstliie openingin.v the center of theupper section thereof, a bracket carried by the said chat-1m; ea1hhtepositionedmmthe'said bracket; a motcnrcanriedywthe-;bracket,.,a:horizontallydisanose lacbaltzcamtie bytha'motorra'nd, adaptedqto ,e: otatedjthereb tmeanslzemoyablyattach-Join REFERENCES CITED:

file --ofi thisz-patent z:v

UNITED STATES. PATENTS 2318;321, Growley .Oct.-15,,1940

' EQREIGN PATEN ES Numbelzi Country. Date" 21,8321v England".of*"'1"89;l' 106,188; Engl'andi June 7,1917 164,180.; Austria, Oct. 1011949 219,151,, lilngl'and? O'ctl' 20,1927

